Looking back through my copies of PB do you lot remember the back page with the readers specials? Looking back now I used to thing they were wizards at work ( I didn't work in engineering them) and couldn't comprehend how these guys fitted that swingarm to this bike and those forks and the thing still rode. So for you Ducati dudes what makes a great readers special (I've asked the same question on the performance bikes forum and it'll be interesting to see just how Ducatisti and Japanisti differ!)? I remember back when the 916 came out and suddenly everyone and their mum had a single sider on their bikes, with the fireblade boys having the easiest time if I remember right. Do we all still like a single sider that isn't a duke or a vfr or is that all just so 90's now? I remember the hybrid fan base as well, with the Suzuki 7/11 mods being the most prolific- its got resonance now as I'm trying to slowly build a hybrid myself... slowly being the word at the mo. Do we like black engines or are we bare alloy fans, do we love a race rep or hav tastes changed, what would we love to see more of? For me there are certain cliche's that summed up the readers special page from the perspective of a mid 90's early twenties yoof back in the day.. Street Fighter - If you couldn't afford fairings after a smash Polished frames - to hide the stretch marks of a frame jig after a smash Single sided swingers - because 916 / RC30 Hybrid engine projects - suzuki 7/11 projects and FZR 600/1000 projects. Specials issue clothing combination: Simpson bandit / urban camo / paddock jacket / mullet. often went with said street fighter and with must have 916 tail unit from '94 on! The willingness to respray your bike in race rep paintjobs - easy for Ducati riders! Thinking my GSXR750WT SRAD (which I always wanted in lucky strike colours but couldn't afford) was tiny until I pulled up next to a bimota SB6. My old daily rider SRAD which I absolutely adored - sold for a couple of grand because of stupid parallel imports pushing the market value down, and because everyone wanted max a couple of thousand a year on the clocks, not 15k after 3 years Me looking a bit of a twat, wrapped in jesters outfit leathers, but it was '96 - now I'm just a porkier bit of a twat!
Good thoughts! I built my first Z1 Turbo in 1981 and on a major revamp in 1984 it was featured in Superbike Magazine - then Streetfighters Magazine came out and everyone called it a street fighter - that did annoy me :Rage: but I was younger then Also had and still have the original 'Star Wars' Simpson helmet circa 1983 - do you remember them? It would be worth a fortune on the antique road show :smile: I was going to build a 'special' out of my old GPZ1100 and had a few ideas on how to be different, but most has been done before really, so decided on the KR1000 Endurance recreation instead. Then got torn between blinging it with modern stuff which is when I decided to build both variations on the theme.
yep remember readers specials page well seem to recall drooling over harris magnums a fair bit also a (I think) triumph twin café racer special once that looked rather tasty loved the frenzy sections as well still have the issue with the katana frenzy in
Liked most of them back in the day.Still like the look of a Harris or Spondon with a tubular frame.If only I could afford one.
The very first copy of PB came with a little booklet that featured 10 readers specials, I use to 'hang around' with the two of lads that had their bikes featured, the CBX turbo & the highly modded Z1000 turbo, Larry somebody or other who now owns a tuning set up High Wycombe way (Can't remember it's name) had the star bike. I was still riding a 350LC in those days.
Bought PB from the off, 1st issue a moriwaki z900 and a tt f1 from memory. Loved readers special but the the occasional booklets of specials were the best. Always remember a z1000 mk2 turbo was my desired bike. Built a few specials, and I love AMA early 80's racers. I was 16 in 1985 and bought 2 fizzies for £5. Wore a paddock jacket jeans and frank Thomas paddock boots. Happy days
I read it before it was even called Performance Bikes (it was Motorcycle Mechanics, or something like that), and I am unique in that I have never had, or know anyone else who did, a bike featured in the mag. I'm pretty sure I'm the only one. (I have been in Bike and Superbike, though...)
Join you in that fig, but did have a letter printed about them featuring my honda cb100n turbo ( it was a piss take).
